I have problems with open source. I have a Dell Inspiron 537 n series which came with Ubuntu 9.04 installed. The ethernet adaptor is a Realtek 8169/8169S/8110S based PCI adapter (re). I have been unable to download
Desktop BSD, PC BSD, and every livecd that I have attempted including Gparted. I have been able to download OpenBSD 4.6 and FreeBSD 8.0, but I can't make them work either. With OpenBSD I used dhcp for my cable modem
and it got results, but I could not get anywhere with the ethernet card. When it was loaded, I could ping websites, but I could not get into the ftp site to obtain packages (not found). As for FreeBSD, I could not
find a combination of addresses that would get me to the internet. Rtfm? I have, and have read much of, three books on UNIX, five books on FreeBSD, two books on BSD, and one book on OpenBSD. Any help out there? I
also have a suggestion for a new category for the forum to consider. Troubleshooting. When a person has a problem, he could post in Troubleshooting. Anyone who wants to help, but without a verbose explanation, could
suggest page number and chapter number in a book or the Handbook or FAQ.

I loaded OpenBSD two different ways since my posting. First I configured just the cable modem. Next I configured both the cable modem, cdce0, using dhcp, and the ethernet card, re0, using addresses from Ubuntu. I could ping websites,
but I could not get into the OpenBSD ftp site to obtain packages (not found). But with both of the above mentioned loading methods I could get into a FreeBSD site. I was connected to moss.cse.buffaloedu. This is one reason I didn't
include the above information completely. I forgot to enter echo $pkg_path. To get to this forum I have to reload Ubuntu.

If you have problems with sudo(8), respond back & one of us will help with its configuration. Otherwise as a temporary fix, you can log in as root, ensure that PKG_PATH is correctly set, followed by issuing the pkg_add(1) command. Recognize that routinely logging in as root is not considered a best practice in the Unix world.

Again, the FAQ can be your friend.

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However, when I entered "ftp -a ftp2.freebsd.org" I was connected to "moss.cse.buffalo.edu".

To promote clarify & avoid confusion, we will continue to discuss package installation on OpenBSD in this thread. If you want to discuss installing applications on FreeBSD, start a new thread in the FreeBSD forae at this same site.

Thanks for the help. I am slowly progressing. # export PKG_PATH=ftp://ftp.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/4.6/packages/i386/ worked for me, and when entering # echo $PKG_PATH, the exact string was displayed but, for whatever reason, not always. I also noticed that the PKG_PATH did not carry over when you shut the power off. When I entered pkg_add Mozilla* and Firefox* though, they were not loaded saying something like "unable to resolve". Also, when these files are loaded there has got to be something done in way of configuration. They do not just start functioning automatically, do they? When I browsed a mirror site in Ubuntu, the instructions said connect to the site and go into the directory pub/OpenBSD/4.6/ and this is a list of files you will see. I could not get into that directory let alone download a file. Following are a few more questions I need answers to. I often see read the README file, but I still do not know how to display a README file. When I do not get any results from a command, I see ksh: before the reason for failure. Does this mean I have to be in the korn shell to use that command? My immediate goal is to install a window manager, a desktop, and a browser so that BSD can be functional for me while I learn the intricacies of the OpenBSD shell way of life. Recently I downloaded the Jiggmi OpenBSD live cd and when I booted it the result was the same as OpenBSD on my hard drive. Although the cd was named Firefox only fvwm was displayed when I entered startx. Booting up a linux live cd gives you a Mozilla desktop and a Firefox browser. Last but certainly not least is a security question when it comes to live cds. When making a financial transaction wouldn't the most secure way be by using a live cd since only ram is used? Thanks again.

Be aware that the versions of packages are tightly bound to the version of the operating system. Only OpenBSD 4.6 packages can be installed on OpenBSD 4.6. Mixing & matching versions is not supported by the project.

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Also, when these files are loaded there has got to be something done in way of configuration. They do not just start functioning automatically, do they?

This is dependent upon the package installed. If additional manual configuration is required, information will be displayed at the end of installation. There are very general statements, if you will share what specific packages you have questions about, more specific answers may be provided.

Yet to your question about "starting", the answer is "no". Installing Firefox does not mean that an instance of the application will be invoked at the end of installation.

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I often see read the README file, but I still do not know how to display a README file.

You can use pagers such as more(1), less(1), or any editor. It sounds like you are new to the Unix environment. If you don't find these topics covered in the books previously mentioned, it would be highly worth your while to go to a library or bookstore & find one that does. As for editors, both mg(1) & vi(1) are available in the base installation. Others can be found in packages.

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When I do not get any results from a command, I see ksh: before the reason for failure. Does this mean I have to be in the korn shell to use that command?

Your question is unclear. Please explain further.

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My immediate goal is to install a window manager, a desktop, and a browser so that BSD can be functional for me while I learn the intricacies of the OpenBSD shell way of life.

X & a window manager are not required to use a shell, however, fvwm(1) will be configured by default if X was installed at installation time. Other window managers are available ranging from heavyweight environments such as GNOME & KDE or lighter weight window managers such as fluxbox. There are lots of window managers, & many are available in packages. A common site for viewing different managers can be found at the following:

Last but certainly not least is a security question when it comes to live cds. When making a financial transaction wouldn't the most secure way be by using a live cd since only ram is used?

While concerns about residual information being retained on a hard drive might be an issue, it is more important to look at the security of the network connection. As an example, banking should never be done over a wireless connection as the traffic is very easy to sniff, & sites accessed through an access point can be easily spoofed.